Pastor Found Radio Show No Joking Matter

If you've been tuning in to 89.3, WRTC-FM, these days for the twice- weekly ``World of Funk'' show, you've probably been hearing a new sound.

Dead air.

The Trinity College radio station recently took the show's two disc jockeys off the air.

Marvin E. ``Dr. Funkenstein'' Mink and Billy ``Dollar Bill'' Clinton were removed, according to the disc jockeys and Trinity, after a threat of a lawsuit by the pastor of First Baptist Church of Hartford.

The removal of the disc jockeys was the climax of a battle between Mink and the Rev. Leroy Bailey Jr., pastor of the church. It is a saga that involves personal attacks, lawyers and death threats, all started by what was intended to be some humorous pokes at the state of religion in Hartford.

``I don't think they did anything wrong,'' said Bobby Perry of Hartford, a fan of the show. ``I've been listening to the show for a long time. I think Bailey took the whole thing wrong. This is going to make things worse. This is something the community is losing.''

Taking on the church

The problem started this summer when Mink, a guidance counselor at Hamden Middle School, and Clinton, a city cab driver, began talking about Hartford pastors and ministers on their music and commentary show, adding their own brand of humor.

For example, they joked about a local minister accused of embezzling money from his church. Instead of the pastor being tried in a criminal court, he was tried in a type of church court, something the disc jockeys made fun of.

``I'm a comedian. That's what I do,'' Clinton said. ``Preachers should be responsible for what they do. A lot of them aren't doing the right thing.''

Things became serious when Mink hosted a show Aug. 21 on the topic of churches leaving Hartford. First Baptist Church of Hartford, which plans to relocate in Bloomfield, and Bailey became the focus of the show.

The guest on that show was Alphonso McGriff III, a disc jockey on Weaver High School's 89.9, WQTQ- FM, and a community activist. McGriff shared his concern about First Baptist leaving the city, and suggested a demonstration to show the church that the city needed it.

The show upset Bailey, who on Aug. 25 lashed out in a sermon against McGriff and Mink, as well as others. He criticized in his sermon homosexuals, people with dreadlocks -- McGriff, for one -- and the city for not offering land to allow the church to remain.

``They can threaten my life and they can try to destroy this church but I'll tell them first, you will die, you will go to hell and rot, and the worms will eat you eternally before anything will happen to me or this church.

``That's the reason they [Mink and McGriff] can't prosper, because they don't want to read the word. . . . They are stupid, ignorant, jackasses, asinine and ludicrous,'' Bailey said.

Said Clinton: ``If you throw a stone at a pack of dogs, only the one you hit will scream. Bailey screamed.''

Off the air

Patrice Evans, the student station manager, said Mink and Clinton were warned several times over the summer by Craig Black, the station's urban music director, to stop talking about churches.

Evans and a Trinity spokesman said it was decided to remove the two disc jockeys after Clayman spoke with college officials about the church's feelings. They said Clayman indicated the church would sue, but it would drop legal action if Mink and Clinton were removed. They were taken off the air Sept. 17.

Clayman denied that the church threatened a lawsuit.

``No one ever mentioned a lawsuit. There was some discussion with the program director about some programming the church felt was inappropriate for a station rendering community service,'' he said. ``We simply contacted Trinity College to discuss with them our feelings.''

In any event, Trinity officials say the disc jockeys had their chances.

``They were taken off the air because of repeated offensive statements,'' Evans said. ``Regardless of that decision, they would have lost their spot on the air because WRTC is a college station and students have priority. Regardless, they would have lost their show.''

Mink and Clinton deny both counts against them.

They said no one ever told them they were doing anything wrong, and that they weren't even officially notified they were off the air. As for the contention that they would have lost their show, they note they've been on continuously for more than a year -- Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m. -- and no students have ever had their time. In addition, they note that on at least one occasion since their departure, the station ran dead air, and not a replacement show.

In addition, Bailey's sermon infuriated Mink, and he held two subsequent shows before the ouster, one in response to the pastor and the other to invite local ministers on the air to talk about churches leaving the city.

What's next for DJs?

McGriff, the guest on the show, said he was bothered by Bailey's sermon but said he would not let the verbal attacks on himself and other keep him down or hurt him.

``I don't feel anything personal as much as I feel more shocked, more surprised it was handled that way by Bailey,'' McGriff said. ``I didn't attack him in any way, form or fashion.''

McGriff said he still plans to hold a demonstration in front of Bailey's church in October, and hopes by then the pastor will talk to him or return his calls.

Mink and Clinton said they plan on staying together. They are looking to bring their show to other college radio stations, and possibly public access television.

``Jesus was slain for his beliefs. This is what they are doing to me and Marvin,'' Clinton said. ``You can't talk about preachers, it's taboo, you can't do it. I feel like church members are always subject to the preacher. Well, who is the preacher supposed to be accountable to?''